sick day

I spent today at home with my sweet little Harper Lee. It was so good to snuggle her after them being gone with their dad for a few days. Here's how we spent our sick day together.

1. some tulips that I kind of like better dead than I did alive
2. got all fancy with my nails
3. we saw a rainbow. and then a double rainbow. I was actually under rain when I took this and then it was sunny a few feet away.

We also watched lots of Garfield on Netflix, ate soup and giggled a lot. I also sold the kids' crib today. I tried not to shed a tear thinking about how time has flown so quickly that they don't even need a crib anymore. My sweet little babies are sweet little children who are growing too fast. Sutter even lost his other front tooth yesterday. Oh time, sometimes I wish you stood still.

xo,

chelsea

The Animal Print Shop

these adorable baby animals portraits by Sharon Montrose put a huge smile on my face when I came across them a few months back. It was a very pleasant surprise to find them on Fab.com yesterday, so it was hard to resist picking up a few for our home and a few as gifts.

Images are copyrighted by Sharon Montrose Photographs, LLC. All rights reserved.

Kinda perfect timing since the kids were just asking for a pet monkey! Check out the sale on Fab, or head on over to The Animal Print Shop to see even more sweet little animal faces.

xo,

chelsea

9

finishing out the August Break with my lucky #9.

put a bird on it

Post #3 for August Break.
this sweet little birdy arrived for my birthday from the fam in Oregon.

xo,

chelsea

Nordiska

August Break: take 2. I plan on making something fun with this fabric this weekend...if I can ever finish the kids' new drapes.

Happy Friday!

xo,

chelsea

Rocks

Currently loving all the geode inspired designs being created out there. Images via my Pinterest.

xo,

chelsea

Sköna Hem

Digging floor to ceiling subway tiles in this Swedish kitchen. Also, I think I spy some Josef Frank in the nursery. Such a sweet story about the cradle, that has been used by many generations, found here. 

xo,

chelsea

Fancy Friday - 7.22.11

I had the following Post prepared to run today, but it feels silly to finish it after hearing about the horrific events in Oslo today. My heart goes out to all the families there who have lost loved ones. I can't begin to imagine how frightening the scene must be at the moment. Luckily we've heard from our family and know that everyone is safe. 

Here's the original planned post...

I went into shock as I typed the date in the title of this post - how is it almost the end of July already? While the end of July can signal a close to summer for a lot of people, it's sort of just beginning around here. June and July tend to be foggy in the mornings...but August and September are really beautiful!! August is kind of my favorite month...and not just because it's my birthday. I have always looked forward to Fiesta and there's usually some pretty amazing concerts at the Santa Barbara Bowl to look forward to. There's nothing quite like that venue, I love it! It also marks Back to School - which is very exciting this year since both my littles will be now be in Elementary School. It's crazy to even begin to think about that!

Things have been pretty snoozy around the ole blog, apologies for that. We had a nice little vacation in Portland, full of eating and site-seeing and of course some rain. I always think I'm going to blog more on break, but it just never happens. I've spent the last week trying to get back into a routine, but I've really been just blatantly ignoring house work and stepping over piles of stuff. I'm hoping to get some house projects completed over the weekend and get my head put back on straight. 

Here's a quick little list of some things I fancied this week.

Saw Beginners last night. What a fantastic movie. Have any of you seen it? What are your thoughts? 

Had dinner at Clyde Common, the restaurant attached to the Ace Hotel Portland, over the weekend. Delicious! It was simple and inventive at the same time, with really fresh, local ingredients and great ambience and decor. 

Happy 113th birthday Alexander Calder!

A gorgeous dress I came across while searching for something to wear for an upcoming black tie wedding.

Kinda in love with the saturated colors of fall via J.Crew. 

Dreaming of sitting outside and sipping an agua fresca.

Has anyone checked out the sales on Fab yet? Today they are featuring some Penguin Books which would be a fun addition to anyone's book collection!

Happy Weekend everyone!

What are your big plans for the weekend??

xo,

chelsea

lofty

How awesome is this loft with lots of beautiful light, a fantastic pop of blue and plenty of found objects?

found here

Happy Thursday everyone! Today has been so beautiful outside. I enjoyed a little lunch date with my honey in Santa Barbara's amazing Courthouse sunken gardens. Now I'm off to get in a little workout and enjoy a picnic this evening for Concerts in the Park. 

What are your holiday weekend plans?

xo,

chelsea

san fran by blur

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a fantastic weekend. We had such a great, but all-too-short time in SF. Here's a quick snap of all the sightseeing (and eating) we managed to get in!

xo,

chelsea

leah duncan

I recently discovered the work of Austin-based artist, Leah Duncan. Totally loving the geometry and soft pastel colors in her drawings. She's also got a great blog too where she shares peeks of her life in Austin and lots of pretty studio shots. 

That last pillow up there may or may not be finding it's way to my couch soon. Ok, it is...


Head on over to Leah's shop for a nice dose of awesome.

xo,

chelsea

summer house

I could imagine having a great summer at this simple, beautiful home in Denmark. Found here. 

Citti

Well, you could definitely hear the crickets around this blog lately. A very busy few work weeks and the end-of-school-year madness for the kiddos have left me with little time for blogging lately. In my moments of spare time I have been spring cleaning (office - you'll not get the best of me!!) and dreaming of squeaky clean interiors that feel springy and fresh. 


We've had a particularly difficult time finding the right piece for our entryway...or lack of entryway. We don't really have one, the door just opens right up into our oddly-shaped living room. We've got a fireplace in the corner, a giant picture window in the front and the space doubles as our living and dining room. The fireplace and picture window aren't really much to complain about...they just make for an odd furniture arrangement. But back to the topic at hand. ENTRYWAY. The errant chair from our dining set and a table that is too big and gets slammed every time the door opens; well, it just ain't workin'. We've drawn up some plans for a piece we'd like to build. BUT. Instead I'll take one ticket to Sweden so I can pick this up from Zweed.

Does it get any better than a customizable, changeable, colorful and sleek piece like this? 

I'll also take that loft with the whitewashed floors and very sexy white/cork light fixture. Thank you very much.

I've been somewhat obsessed with this blue/yellow combo lately - especially after seeing the blue cabinet/yellow faucet combo. But I wouldn't think twice about this awesome grey number also...

[I also spy the unfold lamp that I've had my eye on.]

With an array of customized colors and configurations, I could find a use for one 

in every room. 

Sigh. The Swedes really got my number. 

What room gives you most decorating grief?

xo,

chelsea

trash collector

The saying goes that "one man's trash is another man's treasure". Looking around my home, I'd have to say that's true for me. With the exception of the couch that Carl purchased from IKEA and some other finds, most are craigslist, hand-me-down or sidewalk treasures. 


Here's a peek at some tossed out treasures having a second life in our home...

The neighbors put this out on trash day...mainly because of the broken glass, but it was also in need of a good sanding and some new stain and polyurethane. A little elbow grease, and a good excuse for Carl to buy some power tools, and now it's the perfect place to stash all our books, doodling pads and other pretties. [note to self to clean out the fireplace already...]

This dresser was a hot, brown mess when I saved it from the next dump run. The drawers are still a bit wobbly, but the new coat of white paint turned it from icky brown to our shiny new bar. 


Even our dining table was once destined for the landfill. Little did I know it was a Drexel Heritage Profile set that I saw online through a dealer for about $6500. I've been dying to re-upholster those chairs, but they've been on the back-burner forever. This summer. Pinky swear.

What found treasures are in your home?

xo,

chelsea

fancy friday - almost May

Happy Friday folks!


I can't believe how quickly this week zoomed by. The Honey and I started the week off right with a little anniversary celebration on Sunday at the most amazing restaurant - Seagrass Restaurant. We went all out and got the 7-course tasting menu, which was just insane. 


I had quite a gruelling work-week that has left me in a bit of a daze. I'm looking forward to our Live Jazz cruise on the Double Dolphin this evening, soccer for the kids Saturday, a day of fun moonlighting at Consilience Winery and a day of rest on Sunday. Here's my little list of things I Fancied this week. 

1. I've been madly in love with my Polaroid 600 for many years. I'm loving the Impossible Project's re-release of all kinds of cool instant film. I just ordered the limited edition pack featuring package design by Maurizio Galimberti - who created the awesome collage above. 


2. I'm on the hunt for some Creme de Violette so I can sip on a purple-hued Fizz a la Violette. I love old-fashioned drinks and a pastel potion sounds right up my alley. 


3. A great way to use up old fabric scraps and perk up kids (or my) sneakers for spring - braided laces


4. The new S/S Stella McCartney kids line is so adorable - I'm wishing it came in mama-size.


5. Bodie and Fou owner Karine Candice gave readers a peek inside her London home last Friday and it is to-die-for. Her leather sling chairs, taped up mood board and simple white walls all add up to a beautiful, modern space. I picked up the Feathers poster so I can recreate some of that goodness in my own home. 


It's sort of a wimpy list this week, but there hasn't been much time for blogging with work being crazy, The Honey working from this week, milestones being reached,  and me forcing myself to get to bed before 11 this week. Next week is sure to be one of catching up and carving out some me-time. It is Mother's Day after all, and I plan to milk it for all it's worth! 

What are your weekend plans?

xo,

chelsea